Excalibur precision guided projectile to begin LRIP
NewsFebruary 20, 2013
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates. Raytheon engineers will produce Excalibur Increment Ib precision-guided projectiles under a U.S. Army fiscal year 2012 contract. This contract -- worth $56.6 million -- marks the beginning of Excalibur Ib low-rate initial production (LRIP).
Excalibur, a 155mm precision-guided, extended-range projectile, uses GPS precision guidance to enable accurate, first round, fire-for-effect capability. The projectile has a radial miss distance of less than 4 meters at ranges in excess of 35 kilometers.
"Excalibur Ib's design flexibility will allow software changes and capability improvements in response to future warfighter needs," says Michelle Lohmeier, vice president of Army programs at Raytheon Missile Systems.
Future Excalibur Ib LRIP contract options through fiscal year 2016 cover additional quantities for supporting U.S. military forces' increased inventory requirements, military sales, and training allocations. Excalibur Ib deliveries to the Army are set to start in late 2013. Excalibur is a co-development program between Raytheon Company and BAE Systems/Bofors.